Switch



Jan. 28, 1941. w. H. FRANK ETAL SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet i Driginal Filed Nov. 29, 1937 I I I llr . INVENTORS K iWM ATTORNEY.

Original Filed Nov. 29, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet I N VENTORS Ju /4M ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES 2,229.84: swrron William 11. Frank and Lawrence-E. Fisher, Detroit, Mich.

Ori'ginal appiicationNpvember 29, 1937, Serial No. 176,958, new Patent No. 2,211,107, dated August 13, 1940. Divided andthis application April 1,

" 1940;Seria1N0.327,190

7 Claims.

This applicatfdn discloses a circuit protector and circuit control switch and is a division oi our prior application, Serial No. 176,958, filed November 29, 1937, now Patent No. 2,211,107, issued August 13, 1940, which in turn is a continuationin-part of another prior application, Serial No. 58,870, filed January 13, 1936, now Patent No. 2,108,812 issued February 22, 1938.

For an understanding of the switch herein disclosed, reference should be had to the appended drawings. In these drawings,

Fig. 1 shows an overload protective switch in the on" or closed circuit position;

Fig. 2 is an elevation view of a part thereof;

Figs. 8 and 4 are views similar to Fig. l but showing the parts in the "012 or open circuit and tripped or overload released positions, respectively;

Figs. 5-8 are sections on lines 5-8 and 6-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig.7is g. view as it on line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

The drawings show an overload release switch characterized by the fact that all of the parts 01! the switch are enclosed within a casing which itself forms a handle part of the mechanism of the switch, thus simplifying the construction and protecting all the parts against outside influences, and also minimizing the space required for the switch. The switch comprises a base IIO on which are mounted stationary contacts III adapted to be engaged by movable contacts II2 bridged through an overload release latch in the form of bimetal elements IIS having a bridging block II at their free ends, parts ii2-Ii5 all being mounted on a slide block II! having an extension H8 seated within a socket II! of the base H0, with parts H2 being in cells of blocks II! receiving contacts HI. Telescoped around the parts Just described is a handle or casing II8 having a socket H9 formed in a part I20 thereof and the casing has its lower end formed with a flange I with which reacts a compression spring I22 tending normally to separate the slide block and the lower end oi the casing.

The operation or this form oi switch is as follows: When the switch is in the on position, Fig. 1', the circuit is established through contacts III-I I2, thermal elements H3 and bridging block I I4 and the parts are held immobile against the influence oi the spring I22 by the abutment of the bridging block I with the upper end of the casing H8 near the socket II 8 as indicated in P18. 1.

To open the circuit manually the operator pulls up on casing I20 and this casing, with the slide block within it. moves upwardly to the position of Fig. 3, the relative position 0! the slide block and casing not being changed; to close the circuit the operator pushes down on casing IEd. On manual movement to and from on and 5 oil positions, the slide block and casing move as a unit.

On overload, however, the thermal elements i it warp and shift the bridging block lit into alinement with the socket N5 of the casing, 0 whereupon spring I22 moves the slide block further into the casing to separate the contacts iII-II2, with the casing, however, remaining stationary with respect to the base of the switch g ziid Zvith the contacts separated as shown in 1-5 For relatching the operator pulls upwardly o the casing until the cup H9 oi the casing clears the bridging block IIA, whereupon the latter, the elements H3 being cooled, return to its position 20 of Fig. 3 and the casing and slide block assume a relative position like that of Fig. 3 with the circuit open but with the slide block and easing latched to each other andready to be moved as a unit to the closed circuit position of Fig. 1.

Now having described the switch hereof, reference will be had to the claims which follow:

1. A circuit interrupter comprising a'pair of stationary contacts, a movable insulation block having cells constantly closed by said stationary 80 contacts, a contact forming a wall of each cell and carried by the block and movable therewith to engage or be free of a stationary contact in the corresponding cell, the block contacts being electrically connected by circuit current respon- 25 sive latching means on the block for bridging the stationary contacts and operable for opening the circuit on overload, a casing surrounding the block, and a spring tending to separate the block and the casing, the latch normally preventing 40 such separation.

2. A circuit interrupter comprising a pair of stationary contacts, a movable insulation block having cells constantly closed by said stationary contacts, a contact iormlng a wall 01' each cell and carried by the block and movable therewith to engage or be tree of a stationary contact in the corresponding cell, the block contacts being electrically connected by circuit current responsive latching means on the block ior bridginl; the stationary contacts and operable for open ing the circuit on overload, a casing surrounding the block, and a spring tending to separate the block and the casing, the latch normally preventing such separation, the spring being between the block and the casing.

3., A circuit interrupter comprising a pair of stationary contacts, a movable insulation block having cells constantly closed by said stationary contacts, a contact forming a wall of each cell and carried by the block and movable therewith to engage or be free of a stationary contact in the corresponding cell, the block contacts being electrically connected by a circuit current responsive latch within the block for bridging the stationary contacts, the latch normally holding the block in circuit closing position, but operating, on overload, to release the block and permit it to be moved away from circuit closing position automatically, a casing surrounding the block, and a spring tending to separate the block and the casing, the latch normally preventing such separation.

4. A circuit breaker comprising a stationary contact, a movable contact, an overload release latch connected to the movable contact, a handle in the form of a casing surrounding the movable contact and latch, with the movable contact and easing arranged to be unmovable with respect to and move with each other on casing movement, when the latch holds, and with the movable contact movable free and independently of the casing when the latch releases, and a spring tending to move the movable contact with respect to the casing and so operating when the latch releases, but normally inhibited by the latch when it holds, and then being under stress.

5. A circuit breaker comprising a stationary contact, a movable contact, an overload release latch connected to the movable contact, a handle in the form of a casing surrounding the movable contact and latch, with the movable contact and casing arranged to be unmovable with, respect to and move with each other on casing movement, when the latch holds, and with the movable contact movable free and independently or the casing when the latch releases, and a spring tending to move the movable contact with respect to the casing and so operating when the latch releases, but normally inhibited by the latch when it holds, and then being under stress, the casing being manipulable to be moved manually into relatching engagement with the latch and to stress the spring again after a latch release and subsequent spring relief and spring caused movement of the movable contact with respect to the casing and stationary contact, such relatching requiring movement of the casing to themovable contact, then separated from the stationary contact, and causing restressing of the spring.

6. A circuit breaker comprising a stationary contact, a movable contact, an overload release latch connected to the movable contact, a handle in the form of a casing surrounding the movable contact and latch, with the movable contact and casing arranged to be unmovable with respect to and move with each other on casing movement, when the latch holds, and with the movable contact movable free and independently of the casing when the latch releases, and a spring tending to move the movable contact with respect to the casing and so operating when the latch releases, but normally inhibited by the latch when it holds, and then being under stress, the spring reacting on the casing and on the movable contact and, when stressed, tending to,

move them relatively.

7. A circuit breaker comprising a stationary contact, a movable contact, an overload release latch connected to the movable contact, a handle in the form of a casing surrounding the movable ccntact and latch, with the movable contact and casing arranged to be unmovable with respect to and move with each other on casing movement, when the latch holds, and with the movable contact movable free and independently of the casing when the latch releases, and a spring tending to move the movable contact with respect to the casing and so operating when the latch releases, but normally inhibited by the latch when it holds, and then being under stress, the spring reacting on the casing and on the movable contact and, when stressed, tending to move them relatively, and being formed as a coiled spring surrounding the movable contact and surrounded by the casing.

WILLIAM H. FRANK. LAWRENCE E. FISHER. 

